Google accidentally reveals the next Android version - Jelly Bean - will be 4.1 rather than 5.0

Android 4.1 to come to Nexus HSPA+ phone first

Google has confirmed that the next version of its Android mobile operating system will be officially called 4.1, rather than 5.0 as many people expected. See also: Android Advisor

The update was spotted by AndroidPolice on Google's Play Store in a listing for the company's new Nexus HSPA+ smartphone. On the checkout page, the description includes the comment "soon the first phone with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean" as evidenced in the screen grab from AndroidPolice's story.

This could indicate that Google won't launch a new flagship Android handset at its I/O 2012 developer conference next week, but may instead announce a Nexus tablet.

Given that we now know Jelly Bean will be 4.1, it's looking more certain that it will be an incremental update rather than a major overhaul of Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0).

Google was quick to remove the 4.1 reference from the Play store, so any US customers buying a Nexus now won't see it, indicating that it was an accidental slip. However, since I/O 2012 is just five days away, we'll be able to bring you all the news as it happens.